Telescopic antenna



@WLM

Jam@ H955 Q. BENSN TELESCOPIC ANTENNA Filed May 19, 1951 'rELEsCoPIc ANTENNA George 0. Benson, Youngstown, N. Y., assigner to Chisholm-Ryder Co., Inc., Niagara Falls, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 19, 1951, Serial No. 227,247

3 Claims. (Cl. 287-58) This invention relates to a tubular telescopic structure and more particularly to such a structure in the form of a telescoping vertical antenna used for sending or receiving radio messages and especially designed to meet the unusual and special requirements of marine communication equipment and of other similar mobile or emergency service where it is desirable to be able to extend or collapse the antenna with a minimum of effort and hazard, particularly under severe weather conditions. However, the invention is not confined to any particular use and can also be used as a telescopic support to carry signal lights or the like.

Accordingly, one of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a tubular telescopingl support especially designed as a radio antenna for marine service that can be extended with a minimum of effort and hazard, even under severe weather conditions, and which can also be collapsed or retracted simply and easily when necessary to pass under bridges or other obstructions.

Another object is to provide. such a tubular telescopic structure which can be extended, inches at a time, with one hand when necessary, and will latch in position of extension.

Another object is to provide a more positive latching of the several telescoping tubes when fully extended and which more positive latching Will secure the extended telescopic structure or antenna against severe strains and vibrations. g

Another object is to provide a simple release in which the only manual operation necessary is to move a release member on the lowermost or base tube to permit the next higher tube to drop and in which the telescoping of the succeeding higher tubes is automatic, special automatic trigger mechanisms being provided for this purpose.

Another object is to provide such automatic collapsing of the antenna, following the initial manual release, which is gentle, this being accomplished by a special air valve which controls the escape of air from the collapsing structure. l

A further object is to provide such a tubular telescopic structure in which both the extension and collapsing of the antenna can be accomplished without the use of any tools and in which there is little danger of accidental release of any of the latching mechanisms.

Another object is to provide such a self-latching tubular telescopic structure which is strong and reliably holds the tubes in an extended position.

Another aim is to provide such a tubular telescopic structure in which the tubes are compactly nested so as to insure that the nested structure is in its most compact form.

Another aim is to provide such a tubular telescopic structure composed of tubular metal tubes, and particularly stainless steel tubes and parts, in which good electrical contact is insured between the several tubes so that it can be employed as a radio sending and receiving antenna, particularly in marine service.

Another aim is to provide such a tubular telescopic structure which is simple and inexpensive in construe nite States Patent Patented June 28, 1955 ACC tion. and which can be repeatedly extended and retracted without undue wear or deterioration.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description and drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a three section or tube marine radio antenna. embodying the present invention and showing the same in an extended position, it beingl understood, however, that it could be composed of more sections.

Fig. 2 is a similar fragmentary side elevational view but showing the antenna in a collapsed condition.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken generally on line 3-3, Fig. 1, and more exactly on line 3-3, Fig. 7, this view particularly illustrating the automatic latching mechanism for holding the two illustrated tubes of the antenna in a fully extended position in whichV these two tubes are more positively latched. to insure against accidental collapse.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the. same two tubes fully collapsed in which condition the automaticr latching mechanism is released.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the two illustrated tubes only partly extended and with the latching mechanism operative, this illustrating the manner in which thesev two tubes can be extended inches at a time.

Figs. 6 and 7 are horizontal sectional views taken on the correspondingly numbered lines of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 8 8, Fig. l.

While the invention is not. conned to any particular use, it is shown as embodied in a tubular metal radio antenna or mast having a tubular base tube or mast section 10 into which the other two telescopic tubes or mast sections 11 and 12 are retractable. More or fewer tubes or telescopic mast sections could, of course, be employed. The base tube or section 10 can have holes 13 at its lower end for attachment to a support (not shown) and above these holes this base section or tube is shown as having fitted therein a plug 14 which seals the lower end of this base tube or section. For this purpose this plug is preferably fitted with a drive t against an abutment screw 15. It will be seen that the three telescopic tubes 10, 11 and 12 constitute outer, intermediate and inner tubes, respectively, and that as between the tubes 11 and 12 the tube 11 is an outer tube and the tube 12 an inner tube, these designations being used in the'claims.

As each of. the telescopic tubes 11 or 12 is manually raised it is automatically latched in any position to which it has been elevated, this permitting of inching the structure to a fully extended position with one hand, a feature of special importance in marine service when rough weather is encountered. For this purpose latching mechanisms, indicated generally at A and B, are mounted on the upper end, respectively, of each of the tubes 10 and 11. Since these latching mechanisms A and B, except for size, are identical, the same reference numerals havev been ernnloved and the same description applies.

The parts of each latching mechanism A and B are contained within an external head or sleeve 18 provided with av vertical stepped bore providing three cylindrical bores 19, 20 and 21 of progressively decreasing diameter toward the top face 22 and also providing` two internal downwardly facing annular shoulders 23 and 24. The lower or largest bore 19 fits the upper end of they tube 10 or 11 therebelow, the end of this tube abutting the shoulder 23 and being secured to the head or sleeve 18 as by a plurality of set screws 25. The upper or small.- .est borey 21 of these bores slidingly fits the periphery of the next higher tube 11 or 12. At one side, each head or sleeve 18 is shown as having a pair of small angular bores 26, the axes of which intersect the axis of the tubes 10, 11 and 12 and converge downwardly from the upper face 22, toward the axis of the tubes 10, 11 and 12. Each of these angular bores 26 extends through to the intermediate sized axial bore but the drilling thereof is stopped short of completion to the axial bore 20 so as to leave an obstruction or lip 28 at the extreme bottom of each angular bore 26.

A ball 29 is tted in each angular bore 26 and is biased downwardly by a small helical compression spring 30 in the bore and interposed between this ball and a screw plug 31 screwed into the upper end of the bore. The purpose of each abutment 28 is to prevent the balls 29 from being ejected from the angular bores 26 when the sleeves 18 are removed from the antenna structure in assembling or repairing the antenna.

It will be seen that as either tube 11 or 12 is manually projected upwardly, the pair of balls 29 carried by sleeve 18 of the next lower tube permit such upward projection. However, when at any point in such upward manual projection the tube 11 or 12 being lifted is released, the Weight of this tube, and any other tube or tubes carried thereby, bears down on the pair of balls 29 carried by the next lower tube. This causes this pair of balls 29 to be wedged between the periphery of the tube so released and the outer sides of the angular bores 26 housing these balls. As a result of this wedging action, the downward movement of the so released tube is prevented and hence the tube is held in its extended position.

It is desirable to provide a more positive interlock when the several telescopic tubes 11 and 12 are fully extended.

To this end a sleeve 32 is secured externally, as by solder, to the lower end of each of these tubes 11 and 12.l The external diameter of each sleeve 32 is equal to the internal diameter of the next lower tube 10 or 11 so as to guide the tube to which it is soldered in its telescopic movement and to insure a close tit of the two tubes between which it is interposed when these tubes are fully extended with reference to each other. In addition, the upper edge of each sleeve 32 is beveled, as indicated at 33, and below this bevel the sleeve 32 is provided with an annular groove 34. The major surface of this groove 34 is of downwardly converging conical form, as indicated at 35, this conical surface 35 having generally the same inclination as the inclined bores 26. Accordingly, as any two tubes are fullyextended with reference to each other, the corresponding pair of balls 29 ride out on the bevel 33 of the sleeve 32 and thence along this sleeve into its groove 34. When so lodged in this groove 34, as best shown in Fig. 3, each ball 29 is interposed between the conical surface 35 of the groove 34 and the outer surface of its angular bore 26 and hence downward force upon the tube immediately above these balls causes a pronounced wedging action against these balls 29. Accordingly, it will be seen that when each pair of balls 29 is lodged in its groove 34, these balls provide a positive latching against collapse of the tube or tubes supported by these balls.

As indicated, it is important, particularly in the fully extended condition of the antenna, that the several tubes or mast sections 10, 11 and 12 have a close t in one another. To this end, each sleeve 32 has a close sliding tit in the surrounding tube or mast section and to this end a plug 38 is inserted in the lower end of each of the tubes or mast sections 11 and 12, preferably by a light press tit. Each of these plugs 38 is retained in the lo'wer end of its tubular mast section as by a set screw 39 and the lower end of each of these plugs projects from the end of its tubular mast section and is enlarged, as 4indicated at 40, to fit closely and guide the surrounding tube or mast section. To seal the surrounding tube against the escape of air, akleather cup washer 41 is secured to the bottom 'of each of the plugs 38. This leather cup washer has its depending rim 42 expansively engaging the bore of the surrounding tube or mast section and is secured to the plug 38 by a grommet-like or tubular rivet 43 which extends through the plug, the leather cup washer 41, and a retaining washer 44 within the cup washer.

It will be seen that because of the tubular form of the rivets 43 the interiors of the several tubes or mast sections 10, 11 and 12 are in communication with each other. A feature of the invention resides in the controlled release of air from the interior of these tubes or mast sections so that upon release of the tubes or mast sections they collapse gently. To this end, the uppermost tube or mast section 12 has a cap 45 secured to its upper end and on the upper side of this cap is secured, as by a screw 46, a plate or washer 48. Registering holes 49 and 50 are drilled through the vWasher 48 and cap 45, respectively. It will be seen that these holes provide a restricted vent through which the air from the interior of the several tubes or mast sections 10, 11 and 12 escapes, thereby to determine the rate of descent of lhesevsections.V It will further be seen that the efective sizeof the orifice provided by these holes 49 and 50 can be adjusted by turning the washer 48 and that this orifice can be closed completely.

A feature of the invention resides in the ready manual release of the telescopic structure whereby its several tubes or mast sections 10, 11 and 12 automatically descend by gravity to a nested condition following an initial manual release. To this end a small bore 52 is drilled upwardly from the bottom of each of the heads or sleeves 18 in line with each of the balls 29. In each of these small bores 52 is slidingly mounted a release pin 53 the upper end of which is provided with a head or finger 54 which both prevents the pin from dropping out of its bore 52 and also engages the under side of this ball 29 when it is pushed upwardly. It will therefore be seen that by moving the pin of each latching mechanism A or B upwardly, the corresponding pair of balls 29 are lifted out of Wedging engagement and hence the next higher tubular mast section 11 or 12 is free to descend by gravity. A feature of the invention is that the pins 53 in the head of sleeve 18 of the latch mechanism A are in line, respectively, with the upper face or shoulder of the latch mechanism B, this providing automatic lowering of the mast following initial release of the latch mechanism B as hereinafter described.

The collapse of all of the movable tubular metal sections of the antenna is effected through a single ring 55 which surrounds the lowermost tube or base section 10 or" the antenna and is manually movable upwardly to lift the release pins 53 mounted on this base section.

In use, assuming that the antenna is collapsed, the operator first starts or extends slightly all of the sections 11, 12 or as many more as there may be. The reason for this starting is that in the fully collapsed condition of the antenna the halls 29 are held out of engagement with the tubes which they surround by the upwardly projected pins 53 and accordingly it is necessary to release each pair of balls 29 before they can become effective. After the several sections 11 and 12 have been so started the operator seizes the cap 45 of the uppermost tube or mast section 12 and lifts it with one hand. In a rough sea he may be able to lift this cap, and the uppermost tube or mast section 12, only a few inches before releasing it. However, this tube or mast section 12 will be retained in such elevated position since the weight of this tube or mast section is impressed on the balls 29 around this tube or mast section so as to wedge these balls between its perimeter and the inclined bores 26 in which these balls are housed. Accordingly, this uppermost tube or mast section 12 can be raised by degrees if necessary and will always be supported in any position to which it has been raised.

As this uppermost tube or mast section 12 approaches its fully extended position these balls 29 are engaged by the beveled upper edge 33 of the sleeve 32 on this tube or mast section so as to be moved outwardly. Further upward movement of this uppermost tube or mast section 12 causes these balls 29 to enter the annular groove 3d in its sleeve 32. ln this groove the balls are wedged between the c cical face 3:3 of this groove and their bores 26, this wedging action providing a positive interloci; between the tubes or mast sections 11 and 12 in the fully extended position of these tubes. The tube or mast section 12 is prevented from being pulled out beyond this fully proiected position by engagement of its sleeve 32 with the shoulder 2d of the head or sleeve 15.

The second or intermediate tube 11 is extended and latched in exactly the same manner, as well as any other movable tubes or mast sections which the antenna may have. it will therefore be seen that all of these tubes or metal sect ot the telescopic antenna are positively interlatched fully extended, and by reason of the close intcrlit of the sleeves 32 and enlargements 40 of the plugs with the surrounding tubes or mast sections the telescopic antenna is free from looseness and has good electrical conductivity between its several parts.

When it is desired to collapse the antenna all that is necessary is for the operator to raise the ring 55 into engagen nt with the lowermost pair of release pins 53 and r te these pins. This raises the balls 29 at the top of the lowerrnost tube or base section and hence releases these balls from wedging engagement with the corresponding conical face 35 of the groove 34. With such wedging engagement of these balls 29 released the tube El is free to descend by gravity. This descent is cushion i by the body of air contained within the telescopic antenna and the rate of escape of which is determined by the oriiice provided by the holes di? and Si? at the top of the antenna.

When the tube or mast section 1l approaches the bottoni or" its descent, the release pins 53 carried by this tube or mast section strike the shoulder or upper face 22 of the sleeve 1S at the top of the lowermost tube or base section 1d. This raises these pins and hence unseats the balls 29 thereabove from wedging engagement with the conical face 35 in the groove 34 housing these balls. With the release of this wedging action the uppermost tu e or mast section is free to descend by gravity, the rate or' descent of this section being also determined by the escape of air therefrom through the vent holes 49 and Sil. The cup `washers 41 serve to prevent the escape ol" air 'from the joints between the sections and to insure t e metering action oi the vents 49 and 50 in determining ne rate of collapse of the antenna.

lt will therefore be seen that the collapse of the antenna is effected by the simple expedient of lifting the ring sufficiently far to lift the lowermost pair of release pins 513 that thereafter the collapse of the antenna structure, regardless of the number' of tubes or t sections it contains, is fully automatic.

Prom the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides a telescopic structure which is simple inexpensive in construction and operation and in particular is adapted for conditions where the extending or collapsing of an antenna is accompanied by hazards. lt will further be seen that the invention accomplishes the various objects as set l`orth.

l claim:

l. A vertically telescoping structure including inner, outer and intermediate slidably fitted telescopic tubes, manually releasable means arranged to latch said outer and intermediate tubes in extended relation to each other, a head provided at the upper end oi said intermediate tube, a shoulder' provided on said outer tube in opposing relation to said head, a vertically movable latch actuating member movably mounted on said head and engaging and being moved relative to said head by said shoulder at the upper end of said outer tube when said outer and intermediate tubes are collapsed, and means arranged to latch said intermediate and inner tubes in extended relation to each other and released by said movement of said latch actuating member whereby upon manual release ot' said iirst latch means said intermediate tube slides down to effect engagement between said shoulder and latch actuating member and automatic release of said second latch means.

2. A. vertically telescoping structure including inner, outer and intermediate slidably fitted telescopic tubes, manually releasable means arranged to latch said outer and intermediate tubes in extended relation to each other, a head secured to the upper end of said intermediate tube and having a part extending laterally from said intermediate tube, a vertical pin depending from said laterally extending part of said head and movable upwardly relative thereto, a shoulder at the upper end of said outer tube in the path of said pin and moving said pin upwardly relative to said head only on engagement of said shoulder and pin when said outer and intermediate tubes are collapsed, a ball arranged above and engageable with said pin and interposed between a wedge face in said head opposing said inner tube and the outer face of said inner tube, and said wedge face inclining downwardly and toward the axis of said tubes whereby said ball normally supports said inner tube in an upwardly extended position and whereby the downward movement of said intermediate tube effects engagement of said pin and shoulder to lift said pin and ball relative to said head and permit said inner tube to slide into said intermediate tube by gravity.

3. A vertically telescoping structure including inner, outer and intermediate slidably tted telescopic tubes, a head fast to the upper end of said outer tube and providing an upwardly facing shoulder externally of said outer tube, manually releasable means carried by said head and arranged to latch said outer and intermediate tubes in extended relation to each other, a sleeve fast to the end of said intermediate tube from which said inner tube is projected and projecting radially outwardly from said intermediate tube, said sleeve having an axial bore in which said inner tube is slidably tted and having an angular bore communicating with said axial bore and with the axis of said angular bore arranged generally to intersect the axis of said tubes and inclining toward the axis of said tubes in the direction of collapsing movement of said inner tube, a detent ball fitted in said angular bore, a pin arranged generally parallel with said tubes in line with and engageable with said ball and slidably mounted in said sleeve externally of said intermediate tube and having its end opposite that engageable With said ball projecting toward and engageable with said shoulder, and means biasing said ball along said angular bore toward the external face of said inner tube and pin whereby said ball normally acts as a ratchet to permit extension of said inner tube from said intermediate tube but to prevent retrograde movement thereof and whereby said pin can be moved to disengage said ball from the external face of said inner tube to permit such retrograde movement or" said inner tube, said pin engaging said shoulder at the end of the descending movement of said intermediate tube whereby the downward movement of said intermediate tube effects engagement of said pin and shoulder to lift said pin and ball relative to said sleeve and permit said inner tube to slide into said intermediate tube by gravity.

References Qited in the le of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 

